Heavy rains, high winds, mountain snowfalls plague Italy

28/11/2012

Storm system Medusa sweeping across entire peninsula

Rome, November 28 - From dangerously high winds in
the south, to snow and freezing temperatures in the north with
high water and flooding in Venice, all of Italy was in the grip
of miserable weather Wednesday.
Snows clogged the Colle della Maddalena and Colle del Tenda
passes in the mountains between Italy and France and, with no
openings likely until later this week, truckers and travellers
were forced to detour.
The bad weather, which comes after a similar wave of storms
wreaked havoc earlier this month, also slowed searchers seeking
three climbers who disappeared last weekend somewhere on Italy's
highest alpines slopes.
It is hoped that the trio, all experienced mountain
climbers, have found some shelter from the inclement weather.
Weather alerts were Wednesday issued for seven Italian
regions.
Strong winds were also a major problem in Italy's southern
province of Campania, where civil defence authorities warned of
heavy rains.
Authorities in Tuscany were issuing similar heavy rainfall
warnings as downpours brought by storm system Medusa raised
fears of still more flooding.
Rainfall forced a temporary closure Tuesday of the rail
line between the cities of Pisa and Genoa, and the Aurelia
highway near Carrara.
As many as 28 people were forced from their homes by floods
in the city of Carrara, reminding people of severe flooding
earlier this month in many parts of Tuscany.
More should be done to protect the region, Carrara Mayor
Angelo Zubbani told Mediaset television.
"Fifteen days after the previous flood we have this storm
hit us, we're a fragile area with open wounds," he said.
In Venice authorities were cautiously hopeful that the high
water, which had reached 103 centimetres, will be lower than
earlier forecast.
Waters were flooding about 10% of the historic city's
centre, lifted higher still by the force of sirocco winds.